How to Deal with Exhaustion during Your Postnatal Period

Many mothers complain of fatigue especially in the last trimester of their pregnancies. They also suffer from insomnia and backaches among others. They all look forward to the delivery time when they think they will enjoy a great rest and bid goodbye to the fatigue. However, once the baby is born, the fatigue levels go even a notch higher, and by the third week after birth, the signs of exhaustion begin to show on her face.

The mother has to deal with long hours of lack of sleep. The baby needs her attention almost all the time, and she has to wake up countless times during the night to either change the baby, cuddle or just keep her company until she decides to sleep. Not to mention having to deal with cracked nipples if the baby is not latching well.

Her hormones too are unforgiving, and she no longer understands her body. Dealing with all these experiences weighs her down, making her prone to exhaustion, anxiety and even depression. If you are sailing in this boat, here are tips to help you beat that fatigue during the postnatal period;

Delegate dutiesYou are not the superwoman you thought you are. You have a breaking point, and the sooner you realize that, the better for you and everybody else. You also cannot handle all the tasks in your home. Hey, the home can run smoothly even without you. You do not have to be at the centre of every activity in your household.

If you cannot manage all the household duties such as cleaning, cooking and running errands, seek extra help like rest of your family and friends. If you do not have someone to help you out, visit a confinement centre and understand the services you can get from them. There are so many of them in Singapore that you can visit. Just select one that offers the best services and has good reviews. You can pay for the services of a nanny who will help you run your home until you have fully recovered.

Go for yogaSet some time aside and go for yoga sessions. The sessions will help you reflect on your wellbeing, allow you to breathe some fresh air away from your home and help you to relax. It is an excellent time to enjoy some alone time away from everybody. You will have an opportunity to feel and connect with your body uninterrupted. During the session, be a little selfish and think about yourself. You can plan for such sessions often and very soon you will be able to balance between taking care of your baby and nursing yourself to good health

Limit your guestsYour friends and relatives will be dropping by quite frequently to check on you and the newborn. Some may even come to visit without alerting you and thus force you to spend your rest time entertaining them. Do not compromise your rest. Be firm with your guests. Tell them you need time to rest. If they are merely visiting and not taking up your time, then this is ok. They can buy you groceries, baby supplies or even assist in the household chores as you catch some sleep. Catch up with them once you have enjoyed your rest. It may appear rude, but you need all the rest to survive through the period. They need to be understanding of your situation. That’s why they are your friends or relatives, right?

Finally, learn to listen to your body. If you feel that your body is almost giving up and you are on the verge of collapsing, then you probably are. Drop everything and take some rest. If you have clothes in the laundry basket, they can wait, if other children require your attention, they too can wait. Let your family handle these things while you take care of yourself. If you are handling all the duties all by yourself, visit a confinement centre and hire a nanny to help you until you have fully recovered.